“I am afraid I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Oh, I shall think, think, think; and you know it is hard to sleep when you are thinking.”
“You need the rest, Nellie. The excitement to-night might bring on a relapse and make you ill again. You do not want to be ill any longer.”
“No! no!”
“Then keep still and count yourself to sleep. You can do it if you try.”
“If uncle wakes up and calls for me——”
“You shall know it. But I think he will sleep straight through till morning. He has been drinking heavily since he was discharged to-day, and that was why he fell downstairs.”
“I know, for I could smell his breath. Oh, don’t you suppose we may be able to get him to sign the pledge? Perhaps we can save him and make a good man of him.”
“You may be able to do it, Nellie; but it is not possible for me to do anything. I have tried my best with him, and it has been a failure.”